University of Maryland
TRACE RERC
Technology R&D to Increase Accessibility for Community Living, Education & Employment

Making Technologies Accessible for All

The TRACE RERC is a research and development center at the University of Maryland, College Park. It is part of the College of Information and is funded by NIDILRR (the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research).

Our Mission

Our mission at the Trace Research and Development Center is to capitalize on the potential that technologies hold for people experiencing barriers due to disability, aging, or digital literacy, and to prevent emerging technologies from creating new barriers for these individuals. In doing this, we bring together disciplines such as information science, computer science, engineering, disability studies, law, and public policy. We engage in research, development, tech transfer, education, policy, and advocacy.

A boy sitting in a wheelchair moves a handpiece across the top of an auto monitoring communication board
Lydell, a young boy with cerebral palsy, uses the Trace-developed AutoCom

Our vision is a world that is accessible and usable by people of all ages and all abilities – each experiencing information and technologies in a way that they can understand and use.

What is TRACE Working on Right Now?

A man with Down syndrome using a computer
A man with Down syndrome using a computer

AI and Accessibility

Existing AI technologies are increasing in number faster than assistive technologies, which leaves some people with disabilities behind. How can we incorporate individuals with disabilities when forming datasets? Check out our work on 3D motion capture datasets of Blind individuals for training AI.

A senior woman using a smartphone
A senior woman using a smartphone

Technology and Older Adults

Our technology-focused society often leaves out people who are unable to learn skills such as opening a browser, emailing, etc. How do older adults feel about technology and the constant changes that are being made?

A man using a touchscreen kiosk
A man using a touchscreen kiosk

Accessible Kiosks

With a rise in touchscreen-based kiosks in public places, recreation of accessible kiosks is necessary, especially for individuals who need assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to read content. How can kiosks be designed to incorporate features for blind and low-vision users?

More Projects

Technologies Developed By TRACE

Morphic logo
Morphic logo

Morphic

Morphic is an application that makes computers more accessible by providing accessibility and usability features (such as large text or color contrast) that can be used on any computer or device that has Morphic installed.

PEAT

Photosensitive Epilepsy is a condition in which a person is susceptible to seizures when exposed to content (such as videos, movies, and games) with specific features, like flashing lights or visual patterns. PEAT, or Photosensitive Epilepsy Analysis Tool, is a software program that can be used to scan content for sensitive material to help creators release content that can be enjoyed by all.

PEAT interface
PEAT interface
EZ access kiosk
EZ Access kiosk

EZ Access

EZ Access is a set of interface enhancements that can make transaction machines and kiosks more accessible to people with disabilities, especially those who are Blind or Low Vision. It involves a tactile keypad with raised buttons that users can feel and press.

More Technologies

Learn About Our History

TRACE's founder, Gregg Vanderheiden, with the Autocom
TRACE’s founder, Gregg Vanderheiden, with the Autocom

The Trace R&D Center was formed in 1971 by Gregg Vanderheiden. Since then, it has developed numerous technologies and tools that help people with varying abilities.

A man with a vision impairment is standing at a counter using a computer monitor.
User with vision impairment with computer monitor.
Learn More About Our History

News

  • TRACE Attended CHI

    CHI is the number one international conference on Human Computer Interaction. TRACE Researchers Dr. Amanda Lazar and Dr. Hernisa Kacorri and their graduate students had the opportunity to contribute their research papers: “Surfacing Technology Routines While Studying Videoconferencing Among Older Adults with Cognitive Concerns,” “Understanding Older Adults’ (Dis)Engagement with Design Materials,” and “Tracking… Continue Reading TRACE Attended CHI

  • TRACE Attended HCI International

    HCI International is an international conference hosted every year. Researchers come together to share findings and studies in the field. Dr. Bern Jordan had the opportunity to present his talk “Evaluating Conformance of Video Safety Tools for Photosensitive Epilepsy” in Gothenburg, Sweden! You can check out his paper here, however, please note that it is… Continue Reading TRACE Attended HCI International

  • TRACE Attended CSUN

    CSUN, California State University, Northridge, hosts an assistive technology conference every year. This conference is one of the biggest accessibility conferences in the world, and is sponsored by various well-known companies like Amazon, CVS Health, Google, Microsoft, and Walmart. Dr. Bern Jordan presented his work on accessible kiosks in a session called “Cross-Disability Access to… Continue Reading TRACE Attended CSUN

More News

  • Maryland Initiative for Digital Accessibility

    The TRACE RERC is an active participant in MIDA, a new organization focused on the design of technology products that are "born-accessible."

    Raising the Floor

    The primary development partner of the TRACE RERC since 2013, the team at the nonprofit Raising the Floor is continuing the development and deployment of Morphic and AT-on-Demand, and will partner on several development activities in the new RERC grant.